RE-EMERGE: Refugee Entrepreneurship in the EU: Sparking Grass-roots Innovation, Civic Empowerment and Transnational Connectivity

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine led to a significant influx of refugees to the EU, with over 4.2 million non-EU citizens under temporary protection as of March 2024. Managing these inflows for the benefit of both host and home societies is crucial for the EU, particularly in supporting Ukraine's recovery. The project explores refugee entrepreneurship as a means of integrating refugees into host countries while maintaining ties to home countries and empowering economic and civic agency.

The project will aim to answer the following:  Under what conditions does refugee entrepreneurship lead to grassroots economic innovation, civic empowerment, and increased transnational connectivity? The analysis will focus on micro-level individual factors, meso-level influences of local networks and NGOs, and macro-level politico-economic contexts of host countries. By examining these factors,the project will  provide insights on the innovative, civic, and transnational potentials of refugee entrepreneurship.

Leveraging the expertise of CIVICA partners and integrating Ukrainian partners, the project will conduct data collection, explorative research, and proof-of-concept analyses. The support from CIVICA will enhance publication records, external partnerships, and prepare a consortium proposal for EU funding, contributing to the "CIVICA for Ukraine" initiative.